BeachSeeker
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Road Report and Questions
Drove from Mulege to La Purisima today. The road was in terrible condition. The Baja 1000 pre-runners have rutted it up already. Took about 4 hours
from the turn off. 4WD is absolutely necessary. Technical in the bolder fields and hill climbs. Had to get out a few times and move rocks. In a 3rd
gen Tacoma with 32” tires and full aftermarket suspension.
Is the road to Comondu from La Purisima generally better? I know the pre-runners are going to tear it up, but just curious if it’s worth trying the
direct road instead of going on the pavement.
Also, is the direct road from Comondu to San Javier past El Horno usually pretty good? Is it better than the road I just went on? At least no
pre-runners tearing up that stretch. Thanks!
[Edited on 11-10-2026 by BeachSeeker]
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AKgringo
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Thanks for the road report! I like that road, and I last drove it in Jan 2025 in a Honda Element with stock tires. there were a few challenging
spots on the steeper parts of the road, but not really a problem.
I suspect that the wiped-out sections were due to the series of storms that hit that area this year more than race damage. It will get repaired
again, but those repairs will probably not last through the next major storm.
The other roads you mentioned are likely to also be damaged on the steeper slopes and river crossings, but I couldn't guess what condition they are in
at the moment.
One year, it was actually NORRA that got the pass open for the race, rather than wait for state crews. Many of the ranchers will do limited repairs
to serve their needs,
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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4x4abc
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isn't that wonderful?
The poor ranchers are fixing the roads to their properties so rich people can drive fast.
Lotsa opposition from locals in Baja Sur to this race.
Harald Pietschmann
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BeachSeeker
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We did the La Purisima to Comondu section today. 95% was pretty good. 5% was worse than the previous section. Really big ruts (2-3 ft) and difficult
bolder fields. Barely made it in my truck. Took some big hits on the skid plate. Impossible without 4WD and high clearance. Had to move rocks and have
a spotter in a couple sections. Took 2.5 hours.
Anyone have any info on the direct road to San Javier? I really don’t want to go through another day of beating up us and the truck. The long route
seems, well, awfully long, however.
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AKgringo
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The last time I drove that road was four or five years ago. It was in decent shape for a ranch road, but there had been no recent storms that I am
aware of.
I was driving an Isuzu Trooper then with moderately oversized tires, and had no issues. One thing to consider though is that road gets very little
traffic.
I drove the entire length of it without encountering another vehicle. The fact that some parts of the road had only animal tracks that wiped out any
recent tire tracks meant that I was on my own.
My dog and I thoroughly enjoyed that drive.
Edit; If you do decide to try it, the worst part would likely be the first four or five miles heading south from Commondu
[Edited on 11-11-2026 by AKgringo]
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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geoffff
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Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc  |
isn't that wonderful?
The poor ranchers are fixing the roads to their properties so rich people can drive fast.
Lotsa opposition from locals in Baja Sur to this race. |
I guess I am naive, but I would think the racing companies would regrade the road after they tear it up...(?) It's the least they could do.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: Originally posted by geoffff | | Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc |
isn't that wonderful?
The poor ranchers are fixing the roads to their properties so rich people can drive fast.
Lotsa opposition from locals in Baja Sur to this race. |
I guess I am naive, but I would think the racing companies would regrade the road after they tear it up...(?) It's the least they could do.
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 You’re funny, geoff!
Woke!
Hands off!
“Por el bien de todos, primero los pobres.”
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Pronoun: the royal we
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